Springbok tour

Press, 7 May 1981, Page 16

Springbok tour

Sir,—On behalf of Anglican Action, one of the many groups which took part in Friday night’s march against the Springbok tour and for freedom for the peoples of South Africa, I want publicly to thank the officers of the Ministry of Transport and the members of the police. We are fully aware that being on duty at such an occasion must be an added burden for these people who are already busy with many other commitments. We appreciated the courtesy and efficiency with which these men 'handled the march.— Yours, etc., • MAX BROADBENT, Co-ordinator, Anglican Action. May 4, 1981. '. ■ Sir,—l wish to challenge Mrs Elizabeth Sutherland’s pro-tour statement (“The Press,” May 4). Where does she get her facts from? I marched on May 1 because of my convictions and for the first time in my life. If all the people who have ridiculed and disagreed with prie have the courage ito march in the forthcoming pro-tour march, . I imagine they will have quite a turn-out proportionately. Although I;am not sure what Mrs Sutherland means by “average,” I am certainly not an extremist and like many others was publicly showing that I cared.—Yours, etc., MERILYN R. WATKINS. May 4, 1981.

Sir,—My difficulty in all this is that I cannot work out a label for myself, so I cannot add any fuel to the fire. There are anti-Christian, anti-tour, anti-Rugby supporters, antiblacks, anti-white South Africans, anti-militants, anti-vio-lence, all these imprinting negative words and images daily on everyone’s minds, but how would you label someone who is anti-rejecting tours and increasing hatred among tourhaters, anti-supporting tours and adding fuel for the South African Government, antihating individuals because of government policies, anti-hating people for hating blacks or whites, anti-thinking of people as black or white instead of human, anti-fearing people who are "different,” anti-calling each other Christian or non-Christian-when not one of us is totally living universal love and understanding, and anti-the label “anti.” Using the opposite words might move us further towards achieving the goals we are in favour of—Yours, etc., N. W. MILANOVICH. May 1,1981.

Sir,—Half a century ago, when I was an impressionable altar-boy, I used to shiver in my surplice while ranting - Redemptorist missionaries . promised impending violence and eternal suffering in Hellfire. These priests could verbally paint a horror picture thatmakes Alfred Hitchcock look an amateur. Protestants in Te Aroha gauged the quality of the missionary by the number ' of .little Catholic boys’ mattresses they could count drying in the morning sun. I am probably putting myself out on a “limbo” in saying all these threats and promises of violence did not prevent me from breaking a - commandment or ten; Forty years ago I fought (and watched other men die) for four freedoms, one of which was “Freedom from Fear.” Now, at 60 I hear the Catholic Bishops prophesying violence and mayhem if we allow the Springbok tour to proceed. I don’t scare easily now, thank ■'God.—Yours, etc., ' G. M. EDMONDS May 4, 1981.

Sir,—l can take no more, from anti-tourists who would force their brand of selective

morality, double . standards, hysteria and threats, down my throat. I and hundreds of thousands of other New Zealanders would like to go about our lawful leisure occasions physically unmolested. If we are allowed to how can the myth of violence be substantiated? I find the suggestion ‘that if you play sport with a nation you approve their politics’ ridiculous. In View of the appalling mess politics and religion have got the ; world into, I resent ' their intrusion into this matter. I back sport against their efforts any day. There are some incredibly strange bed-fellows among : anti-tourists. Their credibility and motives must become suspect when M. Creel, your resident defender of Russia, the home of oppression, has the; cheek tol enter into a human .rights debate.—Yours, etc., ; ' : , ' V. F. ELLERY Geraldine, April; 28, 1981. Sir,—lt is difficult to contest the failure of “The Press” to capture the spirit of Friday’s anti-tour march. However, I would like to know of “The Press” exactly who made the “dire predictions” of a “bloodbath” at Friday night’s demonstration. I know of noone. In. fact the march moved through a relatively sympathetic environment with motorists giving the thumbs up and Sers standing on the pavejoining the singing and waving handkerchiefs, in time. This is- a contrast with most marches where onlookers are traditionally indifferent or hostile. It was completely different from an environment filled with rugby fans.—Yours, etc., D. J. McARTHUR. May:4, 1981. Sir,r-It was a pleasure to march in the 12,000-strong antitour protest. The persons protesting were average Kiwis Who Care from, I gathered, a variety of occupations. The self-cohtrol they displayed against aggressive provocation from , pro-tour groups on the way to the Square was splendid and to be admired. Rumours in the week before the march had suggested that a bloodbath could,occur. My knowledge of social justice has been obtained the hard way so I suggest that the hard core pro-tour correspondents to your paper are not only pro-tour but pro-apart-heid. (Canon John Osmers addressed the marchers; he had his hand blown off by a mail bomb while working in Southern Africa for social justice on behalf of those suffering under apartheid. Who supports that?—Yours, etc., WILLIAM H. NOONAN. May 5, 1981. Sir,—There are two Joyce Harts writing on the Springbok tour in these columns. My letters supporting the tour and South Africa, appeared in “The Press” on April 1 and April 8, but I am not the author of the one that was printed over the name of Joyce Hart on April 29. As previously stated I have had (three extended visits to , South Africa and feel qualified to speak on these matters. The blacks living in South Africa are |he more fortunate ones in the (African continent. What concerns me, is the mass hysteria that is being generated on this topic by the ill-informed. We remember how Hitler used similar tactics. Good luck to the Rugby Union, and the tour. It takes courage to remain steadfast to one’s principles.— Yours, etc., JOYCE HART. May 5, 1981.